The First ETFE Canopy in East Malaysia
Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s global network of 31 hotel brands, recently launched the Sheraton Kuching Hotel. This marks the first Sheraton property in East Malaysia and the third in the country. Located in the vibrant ‘Golden Triangle’ of East Malaysia’s capital city, this iconic 5-star hotel showcases innovative architectural design and engineering brilliance with its concave exterior. The ETFE canopy blends in seamlessly with its surroundings and marks itself as a significant landmark in the region.
Originally, the hotel entrance was designed to feature glass. However, our clients have decided to incorporate our Texlon® ETFE system instead, recognizing its potential to reduce steelwork costs.
The developer engaged Vector Foiltec to design, engineer, supply, fabricate, install, test, and maintain the elaborate hotel entrance canopy. Comprising 11 printed panels, our single-layer ETFE solution had to ensure not only a striking design to enhance the curvature of the hotel facade, but also overcome challenging engineering complexities such as a 16 meter cantilever. Additionally, the ETFE steel structure was lighter and more efficient than the glass solution. It provided a more elegant solution with smaller steel components and less connections. The nearly 500 m2 canopy is a triumph, delivered by our leading ETFE Specialists and Lightweight Architectural Steelwork Engineers.
Information
| Date | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Location | Sarawak, Malaysia |
| Sector | Hotel/Leisure |
| Size | 497 m² |
| Structure | Steel/Cable |
| Type | Canopy |
| Architects | Aki Media Studio |
The successful implementation of this canopy serves as a testament to the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders involved in the project. Furthermore, this project marks a historic milestone as the first ETFE project in the East Malaysian state of Sarawak. It represents a vision for a brighter, and more sustainable future.
With over forty years of expertise, Vector Foiltec’s global team is equipped to tackle any challenge across various industries. Whether you’re envisioning a unique canopy or a lightweight roof, our team of experts is available to assist you here.